In a recent documentary on the making of Half-Life 2, Gabe Newell has basically confirmed that he is the IRL Saxton Hale, and the kind of man that just isn't all that fussed when faced with a shark attack. Aren't we all?
One of the themes of the documentary is that, as Half-Life 2 was being developed, Valve was embroiled in what would become a huge and potentially existential legal fight with publisher Vivendi. Valve COO Scott Lynch explains that they'd filed a "narrow" suit over a dispute in their existing licensing terms, and won a few minor victories, before Vivendi decided to "go World War 3" in response.
